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NEW YEARS RESOLUTIONS from Susan Szenasy

SUSAN SZENASY, Metropolis Magazine
The last time I made a New Year’s resolution I lied to myself big time; someone wrote it down and the lie keeps haunting me. But I think I can be truthful when it comes to Green Design New Year’s Resolutions. Here are three:

When I get discouraged about the superficiality of design and designers, I resolve to conjure up the spirits of my design heroes like Paul Rudolph and his sustainable work in Sarasota, Florida. When I recall how he and his fellow architects built to climate and place, before we let technology override our connection to nature, I regain my faith in the power of design and I know that we are capable of adding our new innovations—like computer modeling–to the knowledge we learned from these pioneers of modern design.

When I get overwhelmed by the soul-less, polluted world that international capital is creating, I resolve to remember the creative human spirit (which can reside in designers as well as others), and to work very hard to communicate green ideas to as many people as I can possibly reach; all the while hoping that some of that international capital will get to indigenous peoples solving their own, unique problems—as beautifully as I know they can.

When I get down about how slow we are moving toward a sustainable culture, I resolve to remember that only a few years ago most architects didn’t even think of green design; now most seem to be at least aware the fact that they can do something about making our world healthy for human beings and other creatures.
+ Metropolis Magazine

Susan Szenasy has served as Editor-In-Chief of Metropolis Magazine since 1986. Her leadership and vision within the design and architectural world has established the magazine as a forward-thinking and groundbreaking design publication. She has received international accolades and awards, as well as authoring numerous books on design including The Home and Light.

Metropolis Magazine is hosting a unique humanitarian-focused design conference at this year’s International Contemporary Furniture Fair. On Monday, May 19, Metropolis will present Design Entrepreneurs:

Dear Susan,
We are absolutely in agreement about lack of relevance of current A and D output. Driven by corporate culture, focused on fashion, fawned over by media, we continue our creative REPLICATIONS babbling ‘green’ lip service while we party and congratulate each other about our tremendously mediocer work. If I see another variation by some designer icon of the lightweight stacking chair, I think I may go beserk! ENOUGH ALREADY!!
“ROME IS ON FIRE, WE NEED DESIGN REVOLUTION” A complete rethink of interior space that starts with a blank canvas, forget everything we think we know, and create UNIQUE ( that means previously did not exist ) modular boxes, purpose designed for prefab mass production of each and every physical element WITH THE PRECONDITION THAT WE ACCEPT A 500 SQ. FT. LIMIT AS REASONABLE TO ACCOMODATE THE LIVE/WORK NEEDS/ASPIRATIONS OF 2 ADULTS FOR THEIR LIFETIME. Nothing of our sustain, renew objectives can be achieved until we accept that the smaller footprint essence of Kyoto means YOU AND I, and that will not happen until the A and D heros show us how, with a design Renaissance.
My SpaceProjekt is that effort. Anyone interested can find out more at myspace.com/spaceprojekt
Thanks for the chance to rant….Michael

It can be a challenge as a professional designer in Massachusetts where I live to “sell” green design. But still, I try and I try. And I am able sometimes to influence clients to consider sustainable products. Lately I have been able to have some influence in the area of paint. So like you, for ’07 I have decided to make it a goal of mine to talk more about it. Today I posted about on my blog about VOCs and paint. Maybe it will get more people thinking.http://www.oninteriordesign.com/on_interior_design/2007/01/going_green_wit.html
if you are interested.